You’ve seen that large palm leaf print time and time again in magazines. In fact, you probably associate the large palm print wallpaper with the Beverley Hills Hotel and created by interior designer Don Loper in 1942. The palm print used in the Beverly Hills Hotel though is technically the Martinique which is a riff on an even earlier palm leaf print, Dorothy Draper’s Brazilliance wallpaper.

The story behind the palm leaf print Brazilliance and how to get incorporate it in your home without breaking the bank.

Brazilliance Wallpaper

The legendary interiors of the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia showcase Dorothy Draper wallpaper, including Brazilliance. The story doesn’t start at the Greenbrier Resort though.

Dorothy Draper Brazilliance wallpaper adds to the bright, playful legendary interiors of the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia

Dorothy Draper’s Wallpaper

Iconic early 20th century American interior designer, Dorothy Draper created the Brazilliance wallpaper for a hotel in California in 1937. She also later adds it to a hotel in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

Although Dorothy Draper’s Greenbrier look is bright and colorful and would later be the glamorous Hollywood Regency Look, she did not use Brazillliance wallpaper in the design of the hotel.

Brazilliance wallpaper and scone at The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia

Hollywood Regency Decor Homecoming

On the other hand, many actors and actresses got photographed at the likewise legendary interiors of the Beverley Hills Hotel. The large palm print of the Martinique wallpaper entered the public consciousness as the height of glamorous cool.

Drapers Greenbrier has a pink and white sign that adds a pop of color to the Brazilliance wallpaper

Carleton Varney, Dorothy Draper’s protege who eventually took over her business, freshened up Draper’s Greenbrier look with the addition of some Dorothy Draper wallpaper in 2009. In choosing the Dorothy Draper palm wallpaper he neatly ties up the association of the Hollywood Regency decor with an actual Hollywood hotel interior.

Brazilliance v. Martinique

What’s the difference between Don Loper’s Martinique wallpaper and Dorothy Draper’s Brazilliance wallpaper? The Dorothy Draper palm wallpaper has little sea grapes on her leaves. Moreover, the greens used in the leaves are different with the Dorothy Draper wallpaper featuring a more vibrant shade of green.

Natural Progression

The Dorothy Draper Brazilliance print is so versatile that Carleton Varney has created products other than wallpaper with the print. At the Greenbrier Resort shop, I bought a Brazilliance sarong.

Carleton Varney has added the Brazilliance print as a Dorothy Draper fabric for enthusiasts to buy.